Mather Questions Millions in Rated Programme
Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy 'Buddha' Mather told the House of Assembly that the RATED workforce training programme has not delivered sufficient long-term employment outcomes despite millions in public funding. He criticised the initiative's lack of coordination with key agencies and urged a shift toward skills-based training and stronger private-sector partnerships.
Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy 'Buddha' Mather has questioned the value for money of the RATED workforce training programme, saying the multi-million-dollar investment has not produced the lasting employment outcomes the territory needs. Speaking in the House of Assembly, Mather outlined what he described as the programme's original intent: a six-month apprenticeship scheme placing participants — including young people and seniors — into structured training roles with government support designed to transition them into permanent private-sector jobs.
Instead, he said, the programme has often operated in isolation and produced short-term work rather than career development. "The budget last year, if my memory is correct, was four million dollars. The budget before, another three million dollars, and I’m sure before the year is out, if there is a SAP, the Premier will throw maybe another million dollars at it," Mather told lawmakers.
He added that the way RATED has been run has led to inefficiencies, arguing the programme was not sufficiently aligned with the Labour and Education Departments. "That programme was supposed to be an apprenticeship programme... But when you have that programme in isolation of Labour and Education and every other government department, your result is money being spent on what — cutting bush," he said, using a local expression to underscore his concern about low-value activities funded by taxpayers.
Mather acknowledged that some participants may have benefited, but said those isolated successes do not justify the scale of public spending. "One, two, three, four, five stories — that’s not enough to justify the rate of investment of the public funds in the RATED programme. We should be developing professionals and careers through that programme.
When you see millions and millions [spent]... We could have built a school with that and put them in it," he said. Calling for a refocus, Mather urged the government to prioritise training that equips people with marketable skills and to pursue stronger partnerships with private employers to improve job placement and programme sustainability.
Launched as a workforce training initiative, RATED has repeatedly faced criticism for a lack of coordination and measurable outcomes despite significant funding allocations. It remains unclear whether the government will restructure RATED or change its funding approach following Mather’s remarks; his comments add pressure for clearer performance metrics and closer collaboration with agencies responsible for labour and education planning.
Primary source: BVI News